Hanger device



Nov. 25, 1969 D. D. MCMNCH .3,479,682

HANGER DEVICE Filed Feb. 7, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 25, 1969 n. D.McNlNcH 3,479,682

HANGER DEVICE Filed Feb. '7, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States PatentO 3,479,682 HANGER DEVICE Delmar D. McNinch, Rock Falls, Ill., assignert Lawrence Brothers, Inc., Sterling, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisFiled Feb. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 703,758

lint. Cl. Ed 13/02 U.S. Cl. 16-97 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF' THE DISCLOSUREThis invention relates generally to hanger devices for top-hung doors,and more particularly to a novel hanger structure for suspendingslidable doors from a guide way or track along the overhead section of adoor frame. The present invention is concerned primarily withirnprovements in that portion of a door hanger which is attachable tothe upper margin or edge of the door panel. One embodiment of theinvention disclosed in the present application includes a shank or boltmember adapted at its upper extremity for connection with a hangercarriage, as for example, a carriage of the type incorporating rollersdesigned to be shifted along a horizontal overhead track. The opposite,or lower, extremity of the shank is adapted for detachable coupling witha plate or bracket secured to the upper margin of a door panel. Thisplate is provided with an open-ended slot having an entry portionterminating in an enlarged portion for accommodating the shank, and theshank is provided with a rst shoulder in the vicinity of the lowerextremity thereof for engaging the under side of the plate, and a secondshoulder spaced upwardly from the rst shoulder. A shank section ofreduced diameter is disposed between said shoulders to permit relativelateral insertion of the shank within the entry portion of the slot. Ashank section of increased diameter approximates the diameter of saidenlarged slot portion. When axially aligned, this slot portion and shanksection may be relatively shifted into telescopic association. A latchmember is shiftably supported on the upper side of the plate member.When occupying a latched position, said latch member projects into theannular area beneath the second shoulder and maintains the telescopedassociation of the enlarged slot portion and complementary shanksection.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Hanger devices have heretofore been available inwhich a latch member is supposed to secure an upright shank memberagainst lateral `and longitudinal displacement with respect to asupporting plate. Devices of this type with which applicant is familiarhave not functioned satisfactorily in that detachment of the door memberfrom a suspending bolt has resulted from forces of vibration to whichthe door is normally subjected.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide animproved, novel hanger device which is structurally arranged to meet thediflculties and disadvantages heretofore experienced.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates the provision of adoor hanger device of the type referred to above, in which the uprightmember or shank is connectable with a conventional slide carriage andthe lower extremity is detachably connectable with a door supportingplate by means of a unique latching structure. This novel arrangementprecludes unauthorized or accidental relative lateral shifting of theshank and supporting plate, after the parts have been latched together.

Still more specifically, the invention contemplates an improved latchngarrangement for the purpose set forth 3,479,682 Patented Nov. 25, 1969above in which a door suspending shank and a slotted supporting platemay be relatively shifted axially of the shank to secure these partsagainst lateral and longitudinal separation.

The foregoing, and other objects and advantages, will be more apparentfrom the following detailed disclosure wherein:

FIG. l is a plan View of hingedly-connected, slidable door panels of theaccordion folding type adapted to accommodate a door hanger structure ofthe type contemplated hereby;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the presentinvention secured to the upper edge of a door panel and suspended from ashiftable carriage;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan sectional view taken substantially along theline 4-4 of FIG. 2, with the shiftable or pivoted latch member disclosedin its latched position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, disclosing the latchmember or arm moved to its unlatched position with supporting plate andshank shifted laterally with respect to each other from the positionshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6` is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 8-8 of FIG. 5 to disclose more clearly the manner in which thesuspension bolt or shank automatically shifts downwardly to an unlockedrelation with respect to the plate when the latch arm is shifted to itsunlatched position, shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hanger devicecontemplated hereby shown in association with a door attaching plate ofmodified form;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a hanger plate of modified form, having anopen-ended slot extending longitudinally of the plate, a hanger carriagebeing shown by dot-anddash lines;

FIG. ll is a plan view similar to FIG. l0, with the shank and plateassembled and secured in position by the latch arm;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 12-12 of FIG. 1l;

FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theline 13-13 of FIG. 10; showing the position of the shank with respect tothe plate, before the latch arm is moved into latched position;

FIG. 14 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theline 14-14 of FIG. l1; disclosing the latched position of the shank andplate; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the plate shown in FIGS. l0 to 14,inclusive.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, wherein like numerals havebeen employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures,it will be seen that one embodiment of a door hanger device contemplatedby the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. Thedevice 10 comprises three discrete parts or elements; a plate 12 forattachment to the upper margin of a door member or panel, a doorsuspension bolt or shank 14 adapted to interlock with the plate 12, anda latch member 16 pivotally supported on the upper side of the plate 12rand adapted to be shifted between latched and unlatched position. Theupper extremity of the bolt 14 is threaded for coupling withcomplementary threads in a carriage device designated generally by thenumeral 18. The carriage device 18 may be of any desired form and, asshown in FIG. 2, it may incorporate rollers 20 3 adapted to be shiftedalong a guide track 22, FIG. 3, secured along the horizontal section ofa door frame 24. Section 26 of the carriage 18, positioned between thepairs of rollers 20, serves to accommodate the upper extremity of theshank member 14.

The lower extremity of the shank member 14 is provided with a flange 28adapted to engage the underside of the plate 12 when the shank and plateoccupy the assembled relation shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. It will be notedthat when the shank 14 is thus positioned with respect to the plate 12 aperipheral shank section 30 is snugly accommodated by an enlargedopening 32 which forms the inner terminal of an entry slot portion 34.The aperture or slot portion 32 has a diameter substantially equal tothe external diameter of the shank section 30, while the width of theentry slot portion 34 is smaller than the diameter of the shank section30. A cylindrical shank section 36 of reduced diameter accommodates theentry slot portion 34.

Assume, for example, that the plate 12 and shank member 14 are to bebrought into coupling association by moving the plate from the positionshown in FIG. to the interlocked position shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7.This is accomplished by moving the entry slot portion 34 into telescopicassociation with the cylindrical shank section 36, thus locataing thecylindrical section 30 and the enlarged slot portion 32 in axialalignment. The plate may now be shifted vertically, through the agencyof the latch member 16, so as to bring the section 30 into snugtelescopic association with the slot portion 32 as shown in FIGS. 6 and7. With the parts in this position of association, the plate 12 andshank 14 are interlocked against lateral separation. In this positionthe inner margin of the latch member 16 engages and supports theunderside of a shank flange 38 (see particularly FIGS. 6 and 7). Toprevent unauthorized shifting of the latch member 16 from its latchedposition shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a depending lip 40 at the freeextremity of the latch arm 16 is designed to overlie the adjacent edgeof the plate 12. The opposite or pivoted extremity of the latch member16 has a depending pivot member 42, FIG. 7, which extends within acomplementary aperture of the plate member 12. The latch member 16 maybe constructed of material such as a suitable plastic which will permitsuflcient lateral springing of the free latch extremity.

Opposite extremities of the plate member 12 are secured to the edge of adoor panel in any suitable manner as by means of wood screws 46. Theintermediate portion of the plate 12 lies in a plane spaced upwardlyfrom the plane of the extremities of the plate 12, whereby to providespace for accommodation of the lower extremity of the bolt or shankmember 14.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a door panel 44, equippedwith the slotted plate 12 may lbe attached to the lower extremity of theshank or bolt 14 by bringing the entry slot portion 34 into registrationwith the cylindrical section 36 of the shank, and then shifting the doorpanel laterally. The latch member 16 may now be pivoted from theposition shown in FIG. 5 to the latching position shown in FIG. 4thereby resulting in telescopic association of the shank section 30 andthe enlarged slot portion 32. It is preferable to have the underside ofthe ange member 38 and the upper side of the shank section 30 chamferedas shown to facilitate initial latching engagement of the member 16 withthe underside of the flange 38. In some instances it may be desirable toalso chamfer the entering edge of the latch member.

In FIG. 9 the shank member 14 is shown in association with a modifiedplate member 12a. The plate 12a is of the type designed to be attachedto the side of the upper door margin as distinguished from the plate 12,previously described, which is designed for attachment to the upper edgeof the door panel. In both instances the structure and function of thelatching device are the same.

In FIGS. 10-15, inclusive, a modied form of plate is disclosed, thisplate being designated generally by the numeral 12b. The only structuraldifference between the the plate 12b and the plate 12 previouslydescribed is in the disposition of the open-ended slot for accommodatingthe shank member 14. The entering portion of the slot 34 of the plate 12is open-ended `and extends transversely of the plate. The correspondingslot 34h in plate 12b is also open-ended but extends longitudinally ofthe plate 12b. The slot in plate 12b has an enlarged portion 32b whichcommunicates with the entry portion 34b. The open-cned slot portion 34bpermits assembly of the shank 14 and the plate 12b by association of theslot portion 34b with the section 36 which has a diameter substantiallyequal to or slightly less than the width of the slot portion 34b. Withthe shank axis positioned coaxially with the enlarged, substantiallycircular slot portion 32b, the shank section 30 may be moved intoregistration with the slot portion 32b through the action of the latcharm 16 in exactly the same manner as previously described. As in thecase of the previously described plates 12 and 12a, the intermediateportion of the plate 12b is raised sufliciently to permit accommodationof the flange 28 and shank section 30 as clearly illustrated in FIGS.l2- 14, inclusive.

One of the important distinguishing structural and functional featuresof applicants latching device over commercially available latchingdevices with which applicant is familiar is in the novel arrangement `ofthe latching member or arm 16. In Iapplicants device the latch member 16does not merely traverse the slot in the plate and as such provide alateral abutment for the suspension shank, but rather serves as meansfor maintaining a peripheral surface section 30 of the shank intelescopic interlocked association with an enlarged complementary recess32 in the plate. When applicants latch arm 16 has been shifted to itsposition underlying the flange 38, all lateral forces to which the shank14 may be subjected are resisted by the engagement with the margin oredge of the plate which defines the enlarged slot portion 32. In otherwords, the latch arm is not required to resist any substantial lateralforce which might tend to accidentally unlatch the arm. The dependingportion 40 of the arm 16 engaging the edge of the supporting plate, plusthe weight of the door, .additionally cooperate in securing the armagainst unauthorized or accidental unlatching.

While for purposes of illustration certain structural embodiments havebeen disclosed herein, it should be understood that other modificationsand changes are contemplated.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A hanger device for top-hung sliding doors and the like includingupright shank means, the upper extremity thereof having means forattachment to a hanger carriage, shank accommodating plate means forattachment to the upper margin of a door member, said plate means havingan open-ended shank accommodating slot including an entry portionterminating in an enlarged portion, first shoulder means at the lowerextremity of said shank means for underlying said plate means in thevicinity of said enlarged slot portion, a rst circumferential,peripheral shank section disposed above said iirst shoulder means havinga transverse dimension approximating that of said enlarged slot portion,a second adjacent circumferential, peripheral shank section of smallerdiameter to permit lateral association with the entry portion of theslot, second shank shoulder means positioned above said rst and secondperipheral shank sections, said shank and plate means being relativelyaxially shiftable Within predetermined limits when said enlarged slotportion and said rst peripheral shank section are in axial alignment,and a latch member on the upper side of said plate means shiftablebetween latched and unlatched positions, and when in latched positionprojecting into the area immediately beneath said second shoulder meansto maintain telescopic association of said first peripheral shanksection and said enlarged slot portion whereby to prevent accidentaldisengagement of said shank and plate means.

2. A hanger device for top-hung sliding doors and the like as set forthin claim 1, wherein the entry of the open-ended shank accommodating slotis positioned along one edge of the plate means.

3. A hanger device for top-hung sliding doors and the like as set forthin claim 1, wherein the entry of the open-ended shank accommodating slotis spaced inwardly from the peripheral margin of the plate means.

4. A hanger device for top-hung sliding doors and the like as set forthin claim 1, wherein an intermediate portion of the plate means lies in aplane spaced above the remaining portion thereof for accommodating thelower extremity of the shank means.

5. A hanger device for top-hung sliding doors and the like as set forthin claim 1, wherein the latch member is pivotally mounted on the upperside of the plate means and presents a margin adapted to project intothe yarea immediately beneath said second shoulder means.

6. A hanger device for top-hung sliding doors and the like as set forthin claim 1, wherein the margin of the latch member adapted to projectinto the area immediately beneath the second shoulder means has athickness substantially equal to the axial extent of the secondcircumferential peripheral shank section.

7. A hanger device for top-hung sliding doors and the like as set forthin claim 1 wherein the upper side of the second circumferentialperipheral shank section and the opposing surface of the second shoulderpresent annular surface areas aring radially outwardly to facilitateinitial association of the latch member with the under side of saidsecond shoulder means.

S. A hanger device for top-hung sliding doors and the like as set forthin claim 1 wherein the axial dimension of the rst circumferentialperipheral shank section is substantially equal to the thickness of theadjacent portion of the plate means.

9. A hanger device for top-hung sliding doors and the like as set forthin claim 1, wherein a free extremity of the latch member is providedwith depending shoulder means adapted to interlock with a margin of theplate means when the latch member is in latched position to secure saidlatch member against unauthorized unlatching.

10. A hanger device for top-hung sliding doors and the like as set forthin claim 1 wherein the latching member comprises an element havingsuicient resiliency to permit lateral springing thereof to facilitatelatching and unlatching of said member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 768,137 8/1904 McCabe 16-942,670,496 3/ 1954 Knight 16-97 2,982,988 5/1961 Blackmer 16-97 3,193,8707/1965 McNinch 16-97 FOREIGN PATENTS 462,871 l/l950 Canada DONALD A.GRIFFIN, Primary Exmnner

